motherhood: heaven or hell?

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Being a mom has proven to be the most challenging of jobs I have ever had in my life. Hands down, no other profession compares. So when I saw this quote in my Facebook news feed one day, I had to laugh and copy it into my computer files.

Motherhood is wonderful, fulfilling, rewarding and full of love and pride. At the same time, motherhood can be exhausting, monotonous, lonely, unappreciated and trying of one’s patience.

As mothers, we’re happy one minute feeling blessed with the precious gifts we have in our children while another minute we can feel like pulling out our hair and doubting our abilities to mother.

There is no easy way. No easy fix. No book with all the answers. No guru who can teach us how to create perfect children. Believe no woman who tells you being a mom is easy or that her children are angelic all the time. She’s lying right through her teeth.

I remind myself on a regular basis why I became a mother. I remind myself how lucky I am to be able to have children. Nothing precious comes easy. Everything worth while takes work. The same can be said about a happy and fulfilling marriage.

So while I often highlight how wonderful and special my girls are on my blog, know that it’s not always sunshine and roses. Like life, motherhood is a roller-coaster of ups and downs with the downs teaching us patience and the ups granting us the fulfillment of love and pride.

I love the hugs, the kisses, the cute sayings, the silly antics and the sweet words that my girls share with me on daily basis.

And as much as I love how they are growing up and becoming more independent, part of me wants them to stay little and adorable.

One day, I will miss all the things that make being a mother challenging.
While I will love the free time hubby and I will get back, I know we will miss having our girls around and look forward to the moments when they visit us.

So as challenging as being a mom to three girls can be, I’m holding on to every precious moment I have with them and cherishing not just the good but the not-so-fun part as well.

Motherhood and parenting is a bunch of up and downs (just like marriage!). I have three kids too (one girl, 2 boys) and every day as they grow I remind myself over and over the be as present as possible because someday they won’t be around all the time. I see it in my toddlers eyes – as he continues to grow out of his “toddler-ness,” that I am on a limited timeline for hugs and snuggles and kisses and cribs and diapers. I used to want to get beyond all this with my 1st and even 2nd child. But with my 3rd I now relish in it and try very hard not to wish away time – because BOY does time go fast…

Absolutely, heaven and hell. I never thought motherhood would be so involving, so much worry, so much heartache, so much laughter, so much anger, so much love, so much frustration, so much happiness… it’s a study in contradictions!
(visiting from Bits of Bee)

That quote is so bang on it is not even funny. One minute I am swooning with love and then next I am swooning in frustration and even feeling a little guilty for being so frustrated. It wouldn’t be motherhood without a little guilt thrown in for good measure.

I always tell my friends that are expecting their first child that it’s going to 10x more difficult than the hardest they can imagine…and 1000 times for awesome than the best they can imagine. This quote is just so bang on…and like you…I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Do your friends appreciate your input? I know some new mothers look at me like… whatever. Then when it happens, they’re like…”Oh, you were so right!.

Welcome

Hi. I'm Bruna! Mother to 3 insanely cute and energetic girls. Wife to my best friend. First Grade teacher. My loves include food, travel, books, fashion and connecting with people. I'm a firm believer that we should always be learning and that parents are their children's most important teachers. Read More…

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